The Top 10 Welding Helmet Reviews For 2018

The Top 10 Welding Helmet Reviews For 2018

In this welding helmet review, I’ve listed the top 10 most popular helmet models starting with the lowest volume of the Amazon sellers top 10 group, all the way up to the #1 best selling welding helmet.

If you’re in the market for a welding helmet, whether you’re a hobby welder or full on pipe-liner, I think you’ll find some value here. And it may just help you pick a welding helmet for your needs.

This cool helmet design is excellent for TIG, MIG, MMA, or ARC welding. I has an autodarkening lens with a shade selector of DIN 9-13. This helmet provides excellent protection from sparks, weld spatter, and the damaging rays that could otherwise cause severe skin problems.

The viewing window is 3.7 in. x 1.7 in., so it’s large enough to see the weld area with no problems. And with the optional grinding function of the lens, you can see through the lens without problem when you’re not welding – something you can’t do with a fixed shade lens.

But, when you’re ready to strike an arc, the battery powered darkening lens will react in 1/25,000 of a second. And you can even adjust how sensitive your lens will be to light. Plus, it comes with a FREE gift. A 2 piece cover lens and and eco-friendly lithium battery for long life.

“My husband regularly uses a top of the line Lincoln Electric helmet, which of course is an awesome helmet, but it’s also crazy expensive, around $250, plus another $30 in decals I bought to make it look cool. It’s so expensive that he won’t leave it at work or in his car. I got him this one, and at around 1/10 of the price, I’m pleasantly surprised by what a great helmet it is. I didn’t need decals, because it already looks so cool. I got the one with the blue on the sides, and it looks cooler in person. The helmet is user friendly too, with fewer adjustments to make before it was comfortable and exactly as he wanted it. It’s easy to see out of and works perfectly. No complaints at all. Great helmet!”

This solar powered welding helmet has 4 sensors and an auto-darkening filter. Plus, with its extra large window (.3.94 in. x 3.86 in.), it has the largest viewing window of the helmets in its class.

All the controls are conveniently placed on the outside of the helmet, including lens darkening adjustment, delay, and light sensitivity. You won’t have to fumble with your helmet trying to get to the controls on the inside.

This helmet comes with max comfort in mind. The headband is made with extra padded protection, and the helmet is made of a lightweight composite. This helmet can be used for stick welding, MIG welding (metal inert gas), and TIG welding (tungsten inert gas).

“I like to keep more than one welding helmet available. The first thing that’s required IMO is that it has four sensors. I do mostly tig welding which is much more sensitive relative to the auto darkening because of the low amperage starts. Most four sensor welding helmets are over $125. I saw this one for under 90, and I thought I’d take a chance. I’m very happy that I did. Its very responsive I like the idea that the controls are on the outside of the helmet. It has a nice grind mode also. I don’t have to keep taking it off to change things. I highly recommended this one. It’s got very responsive sensitivity and a large viewing area. Probably one of the best of all the helmets in the price range with 4 sensors. Highly recommended!”

This welding helmet is built with extreme safety in mind. I has an auto darkening switch that reacts in 1/25,000 of a second, and if an electric failure were to occur, you’ll be protected against UV and IR rays due to a shade 16 feature.

This helmet also has delay settings and sensitivity settings. The window is the standard 3.62 in. x 1.65 in., and the helmet only weighs 1 lb., making it less likely to hurt your neck.

This helmet is battery powered with a combined solar panel to give your helmet longer working times – up to 5,000 hours in fact.

“I’m happy with my purchase and would recommend. The only negative and the reason for only four stars is that it sometimes flickers to dark when I move my head. It never fails to darken when I strike an arc so functionally its fine and for the price, it’s a great buy.”

This helmet feature a simple to use digital control panel to change the light sensitivity, delay, and lens selector (DIN 9-13).

It features two working modes. Grind and weld modes. This helmet is perfect whether you’re MIG welding, TIG welding, or arc welding. This helmet will put you in full compliance since it meets ANSI Z87.1+ standards.

Plus, it’s made by Jackson, which is a premiere name in welding helmets. They have made a name for themselves for making only the best hoods.

“This is the first ADF hood that I used, and I love it. Shade selection is super easy. The helmet itself is pretty lightweight but is durable. The best part is the headgear. Adjusting how high/low the helmet sits is easy with the adjusters on the top or “crown,” just like a typical snap back adjustable baseball cap. The ratcheting back is very stable and makes putting the helmet on and off a cinch. This also has a headgear angle adjuster on the shell. Depending on if you use a respirator or not, you can adjust the helmet so when fully down, it can be closer or farther from your chin. In addition, the headgear has an “up detent,” so that the hood doesn’t drop.”

This helmet will surely turn some heads. Made by ESAB (one of the top welder manufacturers in the world), their sentinel helmet brings a premium price.

Their Halo™ headgear is known to provide unsurpassed balance and comfort, and their 5 point adjustable headband provides infinite adjustability.

The lens viewing area is 3.93 in. x 2.36 in, and you can quickly switch from weld mode to grind mode by tapping the external grind button, which happens to be a shade 3 lens. All, that said, not all the feedback has been good.

“Very nice helmet. But if your doing anything that gets HOT and you can’t weld with your face two foot away then this isn’t for you. I can’t weld FCAW with out warping the front lens and I keep my head about 12-18 inches away! Other than that it’s a great hood. But lens are just to expensive and any place I’ve worked won’t carry that brand lens for you.”

This helmet design is for all you bad-asses out their. If you like skulls and flames, this will certainly make you smile.

With a auto-darkening filter that switch from light to dark in 1/25,000 seconds, you can ensure you won’t be exposed to the dangerous UV and IR radiation.

This helmet also has delay settings and sensitivity settings. The window is the standard 3.62 in. x 1.65 in., and the helmet only weighs 1 lb., making it less likely to hurt your neck.

Good for MIG, TIG, arc, plasma, grinding protection, and oxy-fuel.

“Bought this for a college class I was taking and it worked flawlessly. Only problem was if I was looking up to weld overhead even the lights on the ceiling were enough to dim it which got annoying fast. Couldn’t adjust it enough to fix that. Also make sure you leave it in some light before first use so it is charged and ready learned that the hard way.”

-Real Amazon Buyer

Price: $31.99

Welding Helmet Review #7: Hobart 770286 Flip Front Welding Helmet

This standard flip front welding helmet is made by Hobart (Parent company is Miller). If you aren’t concerned about having the autodarkening feature that so many new helmets have, or if you worry about the reaction times of those helmet hurting your eyes, this is what you want.

It has a fixed (not variable) shade lens that doesn’t rely on monitors to darken the lens when the arc hits. Yes, your viewing area will be dark until you strike an arc, but once you’re welding, it’s all the same.

It has a 4.5 in. x 2 in. window for easy viewing of the workpiece. And you can use any welding process with this helmet.

“good helmet. it doesn’t have the green tint that my auto darkening helmet has, which was preventing me from seeing what I was welding clearly. If you don’t mind the blind starts of the arc, this is a good basic helmet. the reason I’m giving this a good rating instead of a great rating is that I don’t have any experience with other passive helmets to compare this to.”

The lens on this helmet comes with enhanced visibility and color recognition along with an auto-darkening filter (the DX 500S), allowing the welder to change the shade on the spot, while simultaneously changing the light sensitivity with ease.

It comes with a viewing window of 3.62 in. x 1.65 in., so everything is crystal clear. And it meets safety regulations: ANSIZ87.1-2010 and EN3794/9-13 standards.

It has a 1lb. Weight so as not to make your neck muscles sore, and it’s an excellent choice if you’re a proud American. Whether you’re TIG welding, MIG welding, arc welding, or grinding, this affordable helmet will give you the performance you desire.

“Very impressed for the price. No battery required and works when I need it. For a cheap mask it works well. Could use a darker setting but other than that it’s great for a secondary mask or for hobby use.”

-Real Amazon Buyer

Price: $31.99

Welding Helmet Review #9: Lincoln Electric, 3350 Series, Black

Lincoln Electric has become known as a top 3 premiere welder manufacturer. They didn’t come up short with their “Viking” helmet.

It comes with a variable shade adjuster from lens shade 5 to 13. It has 4 arc sensors and it auto-darkening with a speed of 1/25,000 seconds. The power source of this helmet relies on solar power.

The large viewing window is 3.74 in. x 3.34 in. Anything that Lincoln Electric is prepared to put their name on is sure to be a great value, and a solid piece of equipment.

“This is the helmet you are looking for! The view through this is UNBELIEVABLY clear! The controls are simple and address all welder’s needs. I used to use a Miller Digital Elite and I absolutely loved it but one look through this new welding helmet and I was sold. Simply put you can see better and if you can see better you can weld better. Everyone in my welding shop as either gone to this or is anxiously waiting for the day when they can buy this! Way to go Lincoln!”

This helmet seems to have struck a chord with the market. It’s the #1 best seller on Amazon. Maybe it’s the “cheater” lens that magnifies the viewing area?

This helmet can be used for TIG welding, MIG welding, arc welding, plasma cutting, and grinding.

The shade selector will switch between a shade 4-5 (for grinding or oxy-acetylene), as well as shade 9-13. I guess for the price, people are really getting on board with this helmet. And with a delay and sensitivity adjustments, you’ll have full control.

“First hood. Works awesome! I have bros with $400+ hoods who are impressed with the performance and features of this helmet. Bought the black one and put my own snazzy lil paint job on there.”

3 Replies to “The Top 10 Welding Helmet Reviews For 2018”

You missed the Optrel Vegaview 2.5. It’s clearer than the ESAB Sentinel and is only a pound. I’ve had the opportunity to run the few cheap two very high-end helmets and I’d have to say comparing the price and customer service along with quality warranty the optrel product line is just as good if not better than anything that Miller and Lincoln offer along with ESAB.